I have a baseball cap that someone gave me that says "Man of Faith" on it. I haven't worn it all that much, but when I do it seems I'm much more conscious of what it says and means to me and hopefully to those who see it. It makes me think a little more before I speak to others and hopefully how I act toward others. We have a parishioner, Ed Doyle, who is our VIP for the month of March who, in my estimation, doesn't need to wear a hat because his words and actions say that he is a "man of faith", a "man of integrity" and a "man of action" in the name of Jesus Christ. Just recently he coordinated the parish men's retreat, which I have been told was a blessing to those men who took time to participate in it. Looking ahead, Ed is also coordinating the next Knights of Columbus Taste of Faith seminarian fundraising dinner here at Sacred Heart in July, which I'm confident will go well in large part because of his leadership. Ed has been the leader of our Knights of Columbus Council 10208 as its Grand Knight and the leader of our 4th degree Assembly as its Faithful Navigator. He and his wife, Paula (who is a past VIP) are Extraordinary Ministers of Communion at Mass and both have been faithful in the Ministry of Eucharistic Adoration since, I believe, its inception. In recent years, Ed stepped up when the need presented itself to be a faith formation leader for our young people in our REY program. Ed and his wife, Paula, have helped to welcome newcomers in our parish and inform them of what's happening here at Sacred Heart Parish as members of our welcoming committee. He has been a bible study group leader and participant as he seeks to grow in his faith and encourage others to do so. He has volunteered at Good Sam's and at Jackson House (which provides food and clothing for those in need of this help). Ed (and Paula) have been a blessing to our parish community (and to all who are helped thorugh our Knoghts of Columbus Council and Assembly) since they moved to the Village in 2002. At a time in his life when many people step back from activities (and ministries) Ed has shown and continues to give an example to us all thot our baptismal commitment is a lifelong calling amd commitment and something we can do in various ways until our physical and/or mental abilities prevent us from doing so. I can't think of a better person to have as our VIP for the Lenten Season that Ed Doyle. Thanks Ed, and firstly, thank the Lord for the gift that Ed has been and continues to be for us and for the honor and glory of God.

On Monday of the first week of Lent, the Gospel for the Mass of that day was Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus speaks of the final judgement at the end of time. He states that those who are to share in the joys of eternal life are the ones who recognize Christ in the hungry, the thirsty, those without adequate clothing, the homeless, the sick and those in prison, AND tend to their needs. Of course, we can respond (and hopefully are responding) to the needs of the first ones (the hungry, thirsty, etc.) in person or through our financial gifts to local agencies (and in Lent Catholic Relief Services-(Operation Rice Bowl). What about, however, visiting those in person? Unless you have a relative in a prison or are approved and go through the training to be allowed in to minister to prisoners on an ongoing basis, our options are few if any for visiting those in prison. That's where our support of the KAIROS prison ministry can fulfill Jesus's call to care about and for those who are imprisoned as if it were Jesus himself. Once we have come to the point (through God's grace) to have a merciful and Christ-like love for those in prison (as Pope Francis in his life and papacy has shown that he does) then we can visit and care for the imprisoned in a number of ways, including KAIROS. Briefly, KAIROS is an offshoot of the Cursillo spiritual movement that provides selected prisoners in a correctional institution the opportunity to participate in a Thursday through Sunday experience led by lay people who are trained to give spiritual talks, encourage discussion by these prisoners and be instruments of bringing (or strengthening) a relationship with Jesus Christ and a readiness to live as a faith-filled disciple of Christ in prison and whereever their life takes them. We are blessed to have Pietro Tomassi of our parish as one who is a presenter at these KAIROS weekends (which happen twice a year in March and September in the Ouachita River Unit in Malvern, Arkansas). Not only can these weekends be a life altering experience for all who participate (and graduate after the weekend ends) but there is opportunity for the participants to receive ongoing speiritual support from people like Pietro, and from each other through monthly evening "Pray and Share" meetings. Our social justice and charitable outreach commission has heard a longer and more complete presentation of KAIROS from Pietro, and has recommended (and I have agreed) for our parish to support the KAIROS ministry and, thusly, give us all the opportunity to "visit those in prison" with love, mercy and care in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

As the ladies were putting out the Lenten decor on the altar and in the Narthex this morning (Fat Tuesday) in anticipation of Ash Wednesday and the lenten season, I found myself looking ahead to the last days of this season of "growth in the Lord" and considering what is done in some Catholic churches starting on the 5th Sunday of Lent (March 26). The covering of crosses (until after the Good Friday liturgy and images (statues) until the beginning of the Easter Vigil turns our attention and reflection squarely to Jesus' passion, death, and resurrection which will be observed in its fullness in the Easter Triduum liturgy which begins on Holy Thursday evening and ends on Easter Sunday evening. More on the importance of full participation in the Triduum will come in future pastor's columns.Obviously, we still have our lenten experiences and journey right in front of us that will prepare us for the Triduum and the joyful 50 day Easter Season. Last weekend's column covered practices and prayers we can do on our own and in community to  make the lenten season special and helpful to us and others. Today I would like to add something else for us to consider doing at least until the 5th Sunday of Lent (when we cover up our images). I am suggesting that each of us choose a saint and reflect on the life of that saint throughout the lenten season and pray that we more and more imitate that saint in the virtues and actions that led them to be declared a saint. I recently watched a one hour documentary on St Pio of Pietrelcina. In light of my mom's recent physical suffering due to sickness and my mental anguish in seeing her suffer, I was reminded of how St Pio accepted and welcomed his physical suffering due to chronic sickness and the stigmata (wounds of Christ that he endured in his hands, feet and side for 50 years) and felt himself in union with Christ in his suffering. He endured it in patience and for whatever good would bless others from it (just as Christ's suffering was for the good of all humanity in redeeming and saving us)! I pray that reflection on Padre Pio's devotion to and hours up hours in the Coinfessional, will lead me to be a better instrument of God's mercy and help to those who come humbly and sincerely to the Sacrament of REconciliation during the Lenten season. I hope you will consider a saint either a priest, religious or a married one and read about and ponder their lives in the Lord and ask theri intercession for you to folow their example of imitating the Lord in thought, word, and deed! Starting and/or continuing such a lenten practice will surely make the Easter Season and our present and future lives filled with the joy and peace of the lord and lead us to anticipate, as the saints did, our eternal life with the Lord in heaven!